Mechanical toy.



W. I. TOWNE. MECHANICAL TOY. MAPPLIGATION FILED mums, 1909.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

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WALTER I. TOWNE, OF WEST MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 28, 1909.

Patented Aug. 24., 1909.

Serial No. 474,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER I. TowNE, residing at West Medford, in the county of MiddleseX and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Mechanical Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanical toy, and consists essentially in a vertical spiral or guide, and a device termed a wabbler adapted to descend the guide by gravity and at the same time rotate around it in a bowing or wabbling manner.

The invention also consists of several modiiications, all of which I will now proceed to describe and point out specifically in the appended claims.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a side view partly in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the above and section on line xx of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an illustration of an additional sectional detail to the main feature; Figs. 1 and 5 are respectively a plan and a side view of a modification; and Figs. 6 and 7 are side andplan views of an enlarged detail. 1

In the drawings, 1 and 1 are bases or supports to which are connected a rod 2, bearing upon its surface a spiral of wire secured to each end thereof by soldering or otherwise, or the spiral may be a thread out upon the rod. Or the rod may be omitted and a wire spiral used, as in Fig. 3, and secured at each end by screw eyes 8, 8, to a stable support.

A device termed a wabbler a, see Figs. 1 and 2, made of a disk 5 with a band 4 centrally around its periphery, and having a central hole 7 is balanced upon the rod 2, and naturally assumes an inclined position, as the disk slides until the edge of the hole 7 rests against the side of the rod. The hole is made a little smaller than the diameter of .the spiral, so that the wabbler will not fall off the same, as shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8. The wabbler is in an inclined position rela tive to the spiral with the edge of the hole 7- bearing against the same and rotates around the spiral in its tilted position as it descends by gravity. The best results are secured when the hole 7 is less in diameter than the diameter of the s iral an amount equal to the depth or the c 'ameter of the spiral, and also when the edge of hole is rounded, and

" the outer periphery of the spiral also rounded.

' disk 5.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent a plan and side view of a modification in which 11, 11 are radial arms extending from a central disk 12 in which is a hole 7, upon the ends of the arms are seats or baskets, as the case may be, in which toy figures may be placed. This device is placed upon the spiral, balanced upon the hole 7, and serves as a toy seesaw, having an up and down motion as well as a rotating one.

In Fig. 1, c is a following device consisting of a wire loop 14 adapted to be sprung about the rod 2 and extending radialy outward as a rod or spindle 15 having a wheel 16 in a suitable bearing, on the disk 5 and provided on its end with a representation of a car or other familiar object. Assuming that the device 0 is at rest, it is easily set in motion by depressing or turning the same by the hand, whereupon the edge of the hole 7 strikes the face of the rod as it sinks on the spiral 3 and it bows or wabbles, at the same time rotating and changing its plane to the observer, and so continues until it reaches the bottom, when the toy may be turned, the following device readjusted and set down upon its opposite support 1. While the wabbler is moving the device 0 is also in motion, as will be easily understood, and travels upon the This device 0, while it adds to the attraction of the whole toy, also serves as a regulator of the speed of the disk, which speed is also affected by the size and weight of the wabbler. The same regulating effect is reduced in Fig. 4 by the ball I) in the wa bler a and by placing in the same receptacle balls of different size and weight, the wabbler may be made to move faster or slower.

I In Fig. 3 is a modification of means for regulating the speed of the wabbler consisting of a tube 20 adapted to fit loosely over the spiral provided with an integral disk 19 whose periphery is adapted to touch the surface of the disk 5; by placing over the spiral, devices with disks 19 of greater or less diameter the speed of the wabbler a may be made faster or slower.

It will be seen that there are many adaptations andvariations of construction of the invention which may be made without departing from the principle of the same.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a mechanical toy, a rod a spiral on the rod 'a traveling device adapted to descend the rod by gravity, with a speed controller upon the rod and said device.

2. In a mechanical toy, a rod a spiral on the rod, a traveling device adapted to descend the rod by gravity consisting of a disk, with a speed controller adapted to rest upon the disk.

3. In a mechanical toy, a rod a spir'alon the rod, a traveling device on the rod adapt ed to descend by gravity consisting of a disk having a rim, with a speed controller about the rod and resting on the disk.

4. In a mechanical toy, a rod provided with a spiral, a traveling device on the rod adapted to descend by gravity, with a following device supported by the rod and traveling device.

5. In a mechanical'toy, a rod provided witha spiral, a traveling device on the rod adapted to descend by gravity, consisting of a disk having a rim, with a following device supported by said rod and disk.

6. In a mechanical toy, an upright rod, a base for the same, a spiral upon the surface of the rod having its outer periphery rounded, a traveling device on the rod and spiral adapted to descend by gravity, consisting of a disk having a central hole of less diameter than the diameter of the spiral and having rounded edges, and a speed controller resting upon the disk, as set forth.

device supported by said rod and extending 4c radially therefrom and bearing upon the disk, as set forth.

' In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 22d day of January 1909.

' WALTER I. TOWNE. l/Vitnesses GEO. WILLIS PIERoE, FRANK O. LooKwooD. 

